Electric steam iron



Nov. 16, 1943. E F SCHQELL 2,334,222

ELECTRIC STEAM IRON Original Filed Sept. 19, 1938 /7 ETE- siii lg. 4.

E f5 F., E

` J0 @m5/fz# .23 A K W INVEN'TOR.

Y 4 y Eugene Sahoe/l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 16, 1943 Eugene F. Schoell, Kensington, Conn., by mesne assignments, to Manning,

assignor, Bowman &

Co., Meriden, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Continuation of application SerialNo.

September 19, 1938. `This application February 24, 1940, Serial No. 320,700

(cl. ss-m mostatic temperature regulating mechanism is 8 Claims.

'I'his application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 230,559, led September 19, 1938, and now abandoned.

This invention relatesl to domestic heating irons for ironing and pressing garments, fabrics and the like.

The invention relates particularly to thattype of domestic heating iron wherein means are provided for steaming, moistening or dampening the article or material during thevironing or pressing operations.

One object of the invention is a novel and improved iron of the above indicated character wherein corrosion of the sole plate is avoided or minimized notwithstanding the employment of a corrosive moistening medium.

Further objects of the invention reside in an iron of the above indicated character Whichis characterized by the certainty with which the moistening supply is broken up and vaporized before reaching the ironing surface, by the uniform distribution of the medium to the ironing surface, by the facility with which the exact quantity of moisture supply desired may be regulated and obtained during the ironing or pressing operation, by the provision of novel automatic means for shutting off the moisture supply, and by the efciency of the'combined ironing and moistening operations.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the drawing forming a part of this application wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an iron embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a side View of a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated as embodied in an electric domestic heating iron having a sole plate I, an upper structure 2, a cover 3, and a l'andle 4. The sole plate I is provided with a chamber extending transversely at its forward end and along the sides.

thereof to receive a cement embedded heating unit 5, 5', and between the upper structure 2 and the sole plate I with the heating unit mounted therein there is disposed a conventional asbestos pad 6. One of the bolts for fastening the upper structure 2 and the sole plate I together is indicated at 1. An automatic therindicated at 8, with a manual adjustment therefor indicated at 9 and a conventional plug socket is indicated at I0. Conventional supports II and I2 are shown for Supporting the iron in an upright position when not in use or when employed as a fabric steamer, in which' operation the fabric is drawn across the sole plate adjacent to the steam discharge openings, thus to subject thefabric to steam vapor.

The sole plate I is transversely channeled near its forward end to form a transverse groove I5 at the bottom of the channel containing the cement 5 and to form openings I6 on either side thereof in alinement with the groove I5. The sole plate is also provided with a multiplicity of moisture or vapor outlets II leading downwardly from the groove I5 and to the ironing surface of the sole plate. Preferably the outlets I'I are provided with flaring mouths I1',

`as indicated. Within the grooves I5 is disposed a moisture distributing tube or manifold I8 which is preferably of substantially the same radius as the radius of the groove I5. The manifold I8 has extending upwardly therefrom a connecting pipe I9, the latter extending up through the cement 5 and through an opening formed in the upper structure 2 of the iron, the manifold I8 and the pipe I9 forming a T. The distributing manifold I8is provided with exterior screw threads at its ends for the reception of anchoring and sealing sleeves 20, these sleeves being disposed in the side openings I6, and these openings I6 are of slightly larger radius than the radius of the groove I5 to form shoulders 2| against which the sleeves 20 abut when screwed home about the ends of the manifold I8. The sleeves 20 are provided with interior screw threads for the reception of removable closing plugs 22 and these plugs 22A are provided with beveled or tapered ends for the purpose of making a water-tight closure with the ends of the Y manifold I8, the latter preferably having beveled ends I8 co-operating with the beveled or tapered ends 22' of the screw plugs 22. The manifold I8 is provided with a multiplicity ofv miniature openings A23 on its under side in exact register with the outlets I'I so that steam or vapor can issue from the manifold I8, coming through these miniature openings 23 and thence through the outlets II to the ironing surface. The openings 23 are substantially smaller in cross section than the openings I'I. There is disposed inside the manifold I8 a wire or rod 24 which by gravity rests along the miniature outlets 23, thereby effecting a substantial closure of these openings when thus resting on the bottom of the manifold. The manifold I8, I9 is made of some non-corrosive water-tight material, as for example brass, and likewise the wire or rod 24 is of non-corrosive material, such for example as brass.

The manifold I8, I9 is assembled by positioning the manifold I8 within the groove I5, prior to the molding and embedding of the heating unit 5 within the cement 5'. The cement bed 5' thus anchors the manifold I8 firmly on the bottom of the groove I5.

Water or other moistening medium is supplied to the pipe I9 and the manifold I8 during the ironing, steaming or pressing operation, and this may be accomplished in any suitable manner, but preferably as disclosed in the drawing. A water or other liquid reservoir is indicated at 25 for feeding the moistening liquid by gravity down to the pipe I9. In the particular embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the supply is effected through a flexible tube 26 leading from the reservoir 25 to a supply pipe 21 mounted in the handle 4 and from thence through a control unit 28 to a pipe 29 leading downwardly to the pipe I9. The pipe 29 has a plug 30 in its lower end of reduced diameter which in turn is provided with a tapered and reduced end 3l making a sliding and substantially Water-tight t with the upper end o f the pipe 'I,9. The control unit 28 comprises a brass member 32 having a. central bore, the lower end of which is enlarged and screw threadedly attached to the upper end of the pipe 29. This member 28 is transversely bored to screw threadedly receive an end of the pipe 21, the latter bore extending to the central bore of 32. The central bore of 32 at its upper end is provided with an adjusting screw thread for the reception of a regulating vsleeve valve 33 similarly screw threaded and co-operating therewith to close the communicating connection between the pipe 21 and the lower end of the central bore. For this purpose the member'32 is provided with an annular beveled seat 34 which is engaged by the similarly beveled lower end of the sleeve valve 33, when the latter is screwed all the way home. The communicating passage between the pipe 21 and the lower end of the bore of member 32 may thus be regulated in area to regulate the quantity of the moistening liquid flowing.

The sleeve 33 may be rotated for adjusting the water supply by rotating the adjusting wheel or knob 35, the latter being fastened to the extension in any suitable manner, as for example by the screw threaded attachment indicated, and by engagement with the flange 33 formed on the sleeve. A screw threaded closure cap 36 is threaded over the sleeve 33 and screw threadedly attached to the reduced end of the brass fitting member 32 and a leather packing 31 is disposed therebetween to form a tight seal at this point. The upper end of the extension of sleeve valve 33 is provided with a similar closing cap 38 and a similar leather packing 39i`or forming a seal at the upper end of the sleeve.

Means are also provided for automatically shutting oi the water supply when the operator removes her hand from the handle 4. This means comprises a finger knob 40 carrying a rod or stem 4I Ywhich extends down through the water control unit 28 and carries a shut-off valve 42 on its lower end for shutting 01T the annular passage 43 formed in the central bore of the member 32 and about the stem 4I. A

spring' 44 disposed between the knob 40 and the closing cap 38 normally urges the finger oontrolling knob 40 in a direction to close the shutoi valve 42 so that when the operatorl releases the knob 40 the water supply is automatically shut oi'.

The'operation is clear from the above. The operator upon engagement of the handle 4 for ironing and during the ironing operation may readily engage the knob 40 and open the water supply circuit at any point desired during the ironing and pressing operations and upon the release of the knob 40 the supply is automati- V, cally shut off. 'I'he exact quantity of water or other moistening medium desired may be accurately regulated by the manual adjustment 35. The water upon passing down through the pipe I9 into the manifold rst comes in contact with .the loose brass wire or rod- 24 before it passes through the miniature outlets 23 and thisy wire or rod thus functions to break up the water before it reaches these outlets. It also serves to prevent or limit the flow of .water through the outlets 23 until it is moved away from the holes 23, thus permitting the steam to pass through, and thereby acting as an automatic steam valve'l The miniature outlets 23 formed in the manifold 24 are, as described above, substantially smaller than the outlets I1 in the sole plate and thus the contact between the moistening medium and the metal of the sole plate is minimized, if not entirely avoided, since the steam or vapor tends to flow downwardly through the outlet I1 and through flaring mouths I1' without any substantial contact with the metal walls of the holes I1.

Corrosion of the metal of the sole plate is therevby minimized. The manifold .construction and assembly also results in an effective seal against the escape of moistening medium except through the miniature outlets 23, that is, a perfect seal between the manifold and the cement 5 is obtained, and by removal of the closing plugs 22 the manifold may be thoroughly cleaned at will. Such occasional cleaning is required because of the tendency for the manifold to collect a lime deposit from the hard water of certain localities.

In Fig. 3 there is shown schematically an iron in which the water supply to the fitting 28 and the pipe 29 is arranged so that the thumb control knob 40 is disposed near: the level of the handle 40 so as to render it more convenient for the operator -to engage both the handle 4 and at the same time engage the knob 40 with the thumb. When the iron is used tipped up on its back stand for steaming, the knob 40 may be depressed by hand for the supply of water.

The rod 24 preferably completely closes the miniature outlets 23 leading from the manifold I8, although one or more of these outlets may have inlets which are not entirely but nearly closed by the rod, the closure being suicient to prevent any substantial water leakage.

The advantages of the above steam iron include, among others, the following. The correl the larger openings i1 against the ironing surface. The larger openings in the sole plate also permit steam expansion outside of the restricted orices of the manifold and the aring or bell mouth openings I1 facilitate this expansion and impart a spreading eiect to the steam. The wire or rod 24 resting upon the row of orifices 23 functions both as an automatic closure for these openings and as a means for breaking up the drops of unvaporized water within the manifold chamber, and in addition functions with the restricted orifices 23 to prevent water drip which is objectionable in this general type of iron.

When the iron is moved back and forth in the ironing operation the wire or rod 24, by its inertia, is moved from one position to another to uncover or uncover more completely the orices 23 and to permit an increased steam flow of the steam therethrough. The water dropping upon the wire or rod 24 is broken up to facilitate the conversion thereof into steam which issues from the passages; but the hot rod or wire, even though in motion with the movement of the iron in use and not covering the openings all of the time, engages any water globules adjacent the openings and breaks them up into smaller globules. If the rod and manifold cools substantially to the boiling point, the water drops wet' or may wet the rod and surface adjacent to the openings. It is believed also that the capillary action and surface tension existing between the wetted surfaces of the rod and the manifold function to prevent drops of water from passing to the outside as water drip and, accordingly, cooperate with the weight of the rod to prevent water drops being driven out by the steam. In any event, I have found in practice that a minimum of water drip occurs during operation and that the desired quantity of steam supply may be had and the rod 24 does in fact function as an automatic steam supply regulating valve.

With the iron resting on its back stand for use as a fabric steamer, the rod takes a position slightly more than 90 away from the line of the manifold and sole plate passages. However,

in this position the drops of water upon entering the manifold drop to the lowest point where they make contact withboth the hot rod and the manifold walls and there are converted into steam. 'I'he steam issues from the passages without danger of blowing out water drops because the level of the passages is somewhat higher than the rod and steam generating water globules.

I claim:

l. A domestic heating iron of the character set forth comprising a sole plate which is recessed at a point ,closely adjacent the ironing surface for the reception of a moistening medium manifold, a moistening medium manifold'disposed in the recess for vaporizing and distributing the medium, said manifold and said sole plate having a line of registering passages for the medium, an imperi'orate cylindrical member for assisting in breaking up the moistening medium and resting by gravity on the bottom of the manifold along the line of passages, and a supply pipe for supplying liquid to said manifold for vaporization therein.

2. In a domestic heating iron of the character set forth, a sole plate having a cement bed in which a heating unit is embedded and a moistening medium manifold embedded between said cement bed and the ironing surface, said manifold and said sole plate having communicating moistening medium distributing passages and means for supplying a moistening medium to said manifold.

3. In a domestic heating iron of the character set forth, a sole plate having a cement bed in which a heating unit is embedded and a moistening medium manifold embedded between said cement bed and the ironing surface, said manifold and said sole plate having communicating moistening medium distributing passages and means for supplying a moistening medium to said manifold said manifold being in the form of a T with the leg thereof extending through the cement bed and communicating with the means for supplying moistening medium.

4. In a domestic heating iron of the character set forth, a sole plate having a transverse channel formed therein and openingthrough the sides of said sole plate, a moistening medium manifold disposed in said channel with communicating passages formed in said manifold and the sole plate for distributing the moistening medium to the ironing surface, said manifold having sleeves screw threadedly attached to the ends thereof and disposed in the side openings of the channel and screw plugs for closing said manifold, screw-threadedly attached to said sleeves.

5. In a domestic heating iron of the character set forth, a sole plate having a moistening medium distributing and steam generating chamber therein, a heating element thermally associated with the chamber, said chamber having moisture medium distributing outlets therefrom and a loose elongated member resting on and aligned with said outlets and of a structure to break up water falling thereon.

6. In an iron of the character set forth having a sole plate provided with a moisture medium distributing chamber, moisture distributing passages leading from said chamber to the ironing surface and an automatic steam valve which closes said passages until the moistening medium is vaporized comprising a movable cylindrical element freely restingupon the inlets to said passages during the ironing operation for movement therewith.

7. In a domestic heating iron of the character set forth, a soleplate having a transverse channel formed therein and opening through the sides of said sole plate, a moistening medium manifold disposed in said channel with communicating passages formed in said manifold and the sole plate for distributing the moistening medium to the ironing surface, said mani fold having sleeves screw-threadedly attached to the, .ends thereof vvand disposed in the side openings of the channel and screw plugs for closing saidma'nifold, the channel of the sole plata being provided with shouldersvwith which' said sleeves co-operate to form a seal.

8. In an iron of the character set forth having a sole plate provided with a moisture medium distributing chamber, distributing passages leading from said chamber to the ironing surface, a supply pipe for supplying a moistening medium to said chamber, and means for assisting in breaking up the moistening medium thus supplied to said chamber comprising a member which is loosely mounted in the chamber and is movable responsively to movements of the iron during the ironing operation.

EUGENE scnomm. 

